The position is located in the Laboratory and Scientific Services (LSS), Drugs, Laboratory and Scientific Services Branch (DLSSB), Division for Policy Analysis and Public Affairs (DPA), United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in Vienna, Austria. The incumbent will work under the direct supervision of the Scientific Affairs Officer leading the United Nations Laboratory/LSS and with the overall guidance of the Chief, DLSSB.
Responsibilities:
Within limits of assigned authority, the Scientific Affairs Officer will undertake activities in the context of the on-going Forensic and Scientific work programme of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), designed to maintain and strengthen capabilities of national drug testing and forensic laboratories, and to enhance the capacity of Member States to provide scientific support to drug control and crime prevention activities.
The incumbent will be responsible for the following duties:
- Develop, organize and deliver activities to strengthen the capacity of drug control, law enforcement and forensic personnel in understanding and addressing the clandestine manufacture of drugs, including the investigation of clandestine laboratories and profiling of manufacturing methods, the dismantling, of clandestine laboratories and the disposal of drugs and chemicals. Coordinate and substantively backstop the development of related scientific training courses and materials.
- Contribute to primary scientific research projects related to synthetic drug manufacture and profiling.
- Provide scientific/technical advice to key counterparts as well as support to UNODC programmes and field offices; provide effective and timely technical advice, including ad-hoc advice, support and information in relation to drug testing, forensic analysis, clandestine laboratory investigation and dismantling, drug profiling and issues related to relevant UNODC LSS activities.
- Advise on scientific standards as they relate to procurement, including setting benchmarks, preparing technical specifications and evaluation criteria.
- Support the operational supply reduction activities of UNODC Programmes and those of international partners. Provide scientific support to national law enforcement counternarcotic efforts aimed at addressing clandestine manufacture of drugs, including the conduct of needs assessment missions.
- Promote the use of good laboratory practices. Assist with the establishment of quality assurance procedures, guidelines and policies. Contribute to the development of new approaches for improving laboratory performance.
- Draft substantive guidelines for procedures in line with findings and identified best practices. Disseminate reports to participating laboratories, relevant Government agencies and other interested partners.
- Prepare/draft a variety of written outputs, such as background papers, analyses, briefings, presentations, regular and ad-hoc reports, studies, responses to internal/external requests for scientific information particularly on synthetic drugs, including new psychoactive substances. Draft parts, or contribute to the preparation, of progress and assessment reports, appraisals, work plans. Liaise on relevant substantive issues with counterparts in UN and UNODC, both in Vienna and in the field, officials of other organizations and specialized agencies.
- Collect and analyze data to identify trends or patterns and provides insights through graphs, charts, tables and reports using data visualization methods to enable data-driven planning, decision-making, presentation and reporting.
- Perform other work-related duties, as required.